The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-03-10
Skilled Artisans Always in Demand.

Skilled Artisans Always in Demand.
One of the needs of this country,
in its condition as nation of man
is skilled artisans. The
skilled labor is more easily OBJ
tanned than the educated expert
ance that qualities men to direct
and apply the labors of others. If
the syoung men of this country
could only be made to see it, says
the Western Manufacturer, this is
to-day the promising field that is
open to all, for the acquisition of
honor, influence and fortune. The
are overcrowded, and
book learned scholars are pining in
poverty and dependence, more help
less and pitiable, almost, than any
other class in the community. The
county is still in a transition state.
1t is not so many years ago that we
were purely nation of agrlcultu-
rists. The popu !ation consisted of
farmers, professional men-lawyers,
doctors and ministers-and store
keepers. There was little occasion
for skilled labor, and consequently
less occasion for men qualified TO
direct skilled labor. Now we are fast
becoming nation of manufactur-
ers. The products of the loom, the
anvil, the forge and the factory are
finding their way into foreign coun-
tries to compete with the products
of the skilled labor and experience
of the countries of the old world.
If we are wise-if we have any am
bition to succeed in the competition
for the trade Of the world, we must
qualify ourselves for this changed
condition. We must educate our.
selves and our sons up to the de
mand of the times.
One of the foibles of the Amesi-
can character, and which may be
called a national trait, is the ambi-
ton to be an amateur in many
things-to be what is more forci.
bly, expressed in the term, "a jack
OF all trades and master of none"
There are thousand men who are
ready to assume any responsible
station for which they have had
no previous draining, and are con-
sequently unqualified for any
where there is one who has devoted
himself to one special calling, and
thus qualified himself for a com
handing position in that calling. II
a man leaves his farm and goes in
to the mercantile business and
fails-as he is likely to do-he
tries something else. He goes into
the insurance business, perhaps
and nails at that. He lays his fail.
ures, of course, to the business, OF
to adverse times; to anything ex-
cept his own lncompetency. He
next turns up as the mansger Of
director of some manufacturing
company, and, of course, there il
soon another failure, and he tries
something else and is lucky if he
succeeds. Aud thus, some mer
run through the catalogue of occu
pations, failing in all, tand thus
making complete failure Of theil
lives. This is no fancy picture. L
is a sad reality. Every city is full
of just such men. Fortunately tn
remedy is our own hands. We csI
commence to bring up the rising
generation on different plan, ant
the younger men may even reform
themselves We have said tn,
great want is skilled artisans-ed
ucated artisans qualified to success
fully direct skilled labor. We d.
not appeal to the wealthy and idle
because they are not likely to heet
the appeal. But we do appeal t,
the mechanic, the artisan, the man
ufacturer, to commence early will
their sons, and give them "a practi
cal business education. Don't al
low them to grow up to mans CO
tate without learning a trade; ant
once the occupation is adopted hav'
them follow that, whatever th
choice may be, and for which the,
have an aptitude, as a specially
You can hardly choose any brancl
ofss manufacture and become thor
oughly a master of its details II
which success is not secured.
One of the main reasons VIII,
there are so many failures to-day
is the fact that the men who ar
conducting them have little or n
practical knowledge Of the bushes
they assume control,of. Nearly !
not quite all our successful manu-
facturers are those who have com
menced in small way and steadi
ly worked their way onward an
upward until they stand at th
head OF an immense and wealth
establishment. 1t is becomin
nowadays, if not fashionable, q
least common, to invest large sum
in manufacturing industries of som
kind. This creates a demand fc
experienced and capable men
take charge OF such esta blishment
AS the country extends and grow
older and richer, men begin to fin
out that surplus capital is safer an
pays a better dividend when ii
vested In some successful mani